Historically, no European institutions occupied the first two top spots in THE rankings. However, the University of Cambridge leapt right behind the University of Oxford this year.

In the meantime, universities in Asia are outranking other European institutions on the list. For five consecutive years, Caltech used to top the league table before the University of Oxford. Although the US took 7 places in the top 10 ranks, Asian institutions are competing with European ones in the league table.

Asian institutions' numbers in the top 30 have remarkably increased, while Europe, which used to have 10 institutions, now has only 7.

It is noteworthy to mention that THE observer asserts that the UK's stance is still strong this year, in spite of the future posed threats. Some are worried about the post-Brexit situation that the UK will have to prosper through to establish itself anew.

World University Rankings 2018 – Top 10

1. University of Oxford

2. University of Cambridge

3= California Institute of Technology

3= Stanford University

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

6. Harvard University

7. Princeton University

8. Imperial College London

9. University of Chicago

10= ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

10= University of Pennsylvania